Squaws’ one-two punch kayoes Knights 77-45

March 31, 2011

HOLLY ALONE — Bellmont frosh Holly Hankenson clears the hurdle in the 100 meter event Wednesday at Bellmont. She took the event in 12.6 seconds, one of her four blue ribbons on the day. (Jim Hopkins Photo)

By

Jim Hopkins

The Holly Hankenson era is on.
The Bellmont freshman standout easily won both hurdle events, added the long jump and she anchored the winning 1600 relay team to lead Carl Risch's Squaws to a 77-45 win over Bishop Luers Wednesday in the 2011 season track opener at the BHS oval. In the boys meet, Luers scored a 76-48 victory.
The impressive performance, by any standards, barely trumped the effort of last year's Bellmont frosh phenom, Alexis Harvey, who sprinted to the 100 and 200 meter victories, gave the rest of her 1600 team a lead it would not release, and won the 400 meter relay by making up 20 meters on the anchor lap with maybe the best-ever closing leg recorded at Bob Worthman Stadium, 11.7.
"Holly ... what a great start to her high school career. None of us are surprised to see her win, and she certainly dominated. To the other girls and the coaches, who see her every day, it was not a surprise," stated Coach Risch.
"The hard work of all the girls are paid off in their performances Wednesday," he added.
Holly won 100 hurdles in 16.7, just four-tenths of a second off the BHS record despite the cold and lack of competition. She ran a 51.1 in the 300, beating the field by 50 meters. Her long jump was 15'9.5".
Harvey jolted past the competitors to start both the 100 and 200 meter races, netting times of 12.6 and 26.3 as she ran away from the field. In the 400 relay, it took her only 50 meters to close the gap and draw close to the Luers' anchor, then she outran her down the stretch to lift her team to the win.
"It was just more of what we've had the luxury of seeing her be successful in those sprints. She makes it look easy becasue she's so smooth. On that anchor, she showed a lot of desire and fire to mow down the Luers girl in the 400 relay. And I thought she did a nice job of getting us a good start in the 1600 relay. it was a lead we never gave up," added the coach.
The Squaws won 10 of 15 events to roll to the win, including all three relays. Cadence Faurote won the 3200 in 13:50. Emily Osheskie took the shot put win with a 27' 4 and one-fourth" toss.
Frosh Natalie Busse and Bailey Hankenson also ran in the 1600 relay as the foursome ran a 4:34.2.
In the 400 relay, Megan Schueler, Katrina Robinson and Bailey Hankenson ran the first legs and BHS trailed until Harvey scorched the track with her closing run of 11.7. The team ran 55.3 to the 55.4 of Luers.
Bellmont was unapposed in the 3200 relay, taking it in 12:42 with Macy Burkholder, Sarah Garner, Alyssa Strickler and Emily Roman.
Luers took five events. Rachel Crouch won the 1600 (5:52) and the 800 (2:40) while Bridget Wellman took the pole vault at (6'6") and the 400 in 1:13. Current won the high jump at 5', beating Bailey Hankenson because of one fewer miss.
Megan Schueler took second in the pole vault for BHS and Bailee Hankenson was third.
Busse earned second in the 300 hurdles and third in the 100 sticks in her first time ever in the event.
Sarah Garner took second in the 1600 in 6:10. In the 800, senior Jessica Brewer earned second and Emily Roman earned third in her first-ever attempt in the middle distance.
It was Brewer's only event, but Risch praised the veteran distance runner for her leadership in helping to prepare her distance teammates.
Amanda Noonan was second for the Squaws in the 3200 with her best-ever run, 14:41. Robinson came back after the 400 relay and took second in the 400 in 1:13.6.
Senior Emily Pierce, the top returning jumper, took third in the high jump at 4'6". In the shot put, BHS senior Kimmy Meyer was third. Schueler was third in the long jump, also her first try in the event as she went a re The Squaws will be at Jay County in one week in a three-way, which will include Adams Central.
In the boys meet, Noah Tinsley won the high jump for the Braves and Willie Mahlan took the pole vault with teammate Tyler Korte second. No heights were reported.
Mason Turner added the shot put win with Derek Schultz second and Dalton Hackman third for the Braves.
Braden Korte took second the long jump at around 18 feet and Marcus Bixler was third.
Cory Leffers went 16.8 to win the 110 high sticks for Luers, and he added the 300 stick win. Sprinter Gabriel Sundberg won the 100 in 11.7, the 200 in 24.6 and the 400 in 55.1. Billy McManus went 4:51 to win the 1600 and 10:08 for the victory in the 3200.
KeOntae Green won the long jump for the visitors.
Evan Boucher ran a strong second for the Braves in the 3200 and Korte was second in the 100, Nathan Sheneman earned second for BHS in the 400 while Eric Hirschy third.